The Harvey Girl - Part 8

Recap: Willa found an ally in her new roommate, Dori, plus someone that could read her treasure map. However, the map is missing four parts.

Links: Start Here, Last Part (#7), Harvey Girl Page

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Short on time? Scan the story and just read the Bold parts to get the gist of the story. Then come back later and read the whole thing!

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“It’s news of your father!”

Fin Morgan’s statement shook me to my core. Starring down at him, I felt weak and had to grab the window frame for support. 

For the briefest of butterfly moments, I dared to hope. Fin’s unwavering assistance, my Harvey House indoctrination, and even the last splashes of glittering sun dipping behind rolling lush hills held no enchantment. Only news of my father mattered.  

“What have you learned?” I gasped, barely able to contain my heart.

He frowned up at me. “We must talk privately.” 

Having arrived after hours, no one waited with Fin on the train side of the Harvey House. It would not see activity again until morning. I was about to say no one could overhear when another second-floor window opened. Just ten feet to my right, in the very next room, a girl’s head poked out. I’d seen her, yet we hadn’t officially been introduced—another Harvey Girl. Her long dark hair swung around her chin, rolled up in rags. The strands bobbed with every turn of her head.

“What’s with all the chatter?” Miss Rag-curls asked, pursing her lips together. It was more out of curiosity than reproach. Her roommate squeezed out beside her for a peek but spotted Fin and put a hand over her mouth.

I signaled them to go back inside. They paid me no heed.

“Oooh,” Miss Rag-curls cooed, “we’ve interrupted a beau coming to call. Hey, mister, you scoot along. Harvey Girls sign a contract. She’ll lose her whole salary if you take her away from all this.”

“You can take me away from all this!” the roommate shouted.

“Please!” I interrupted. “This is none of your concern.”

“But it’s entertaining!” the roommate giggled. I vaguely recalled her name. Something with a B and as silly sounding as her hiccuping laughter.

“If you must know,” I added, “my farther is missing, and this man has news of him.”

Luckily, my words touched their kind hearts. Rag-curls waved a hand in front of her face, suddenly sad. The roommate, however… Bitty, Bunny, Bluebonnet… sighed the biggest, chest-heaving sigh I’d ever seen. “What a dear,” she sighed, unable to take her eyes off Fin.

I gaped at the Pinkerton Man, deciding he liked the attention. “I beg you,” I pleaded with the girls. “I just need a moment, and then he’ll be gone.”

“Nooo,” the roommate reached out a hand to Fin, far too high for contact. “Let him stay.”

“If it’s family news,” Rag-curls said, “have him come to the front door like a proper caller. Mrs. Downs will allow you a brief meeting in our little parlor.”

“I’ll chaperone!” The roommate waved her hand, giddy. However, the gleam in her eye would have sent any man running. It even had that effect on me.

“My roommate can chaperone,” I sidestepped the offer, smiling at the girls.

They had certainly done me a kindness. Some house rules were less evident than others, especially regarding the little parlor. “If you will.” I motioned for Fin to head around to the front. “I’ll meet you at the street door.”

With a tip of his bowler hat, Fin gladly departed amidst the whistles and hoots of my Harvey Girl neighbors.

“Thank you kindly,” I waved at the girls. Ducking back into the room, I turned to Dori, a finger pointed at the map. “We can’t bring that, but I’d like you to come with me as a chaperone.”

Dori stood up straight. “If I get to meet your handsome caller, it would most certainly be my pleasure. Even if he’s sweet on you, I’d be honored to make his acquaintance.”

“He’s not sweet on me,” I said, banishing the thought. “He’s more like a mangy dog that follows you home for kitchen scraps.”

Appearing to have difficulty rationalizing my description with her Fin fantasy version, Dori tutted for a minute, busying herself with putting the map safely under my mattress. “Oh, he does sound like a handful,” she said, straightening her skirt. “I’ll happily act as a chaperone and make doubly certain he behaves.”

“I can handle him, but your presence is most welcome. Now come along and say nothing of the you-know-what.” I winked at my mattress.

Dori nodded that she understood, pretending to lock her lips. It took only a brief stop at Mrs. Downs’s room to get her approval. Not even a bit of side-eye, and we were off to the parlor. I must admit to backing away from her door with a stunned expression. I’d clearly missed some Harvey House perks.

Once we’d settled in the parlor, Fin greeted us with a sad smile. “The news is not…”

“Good?” Dori interrupted. “As bad as it could be? Worth your worry? Likely to help Willa find her father? The biggest disaster known to man?!”

The stream of words sped out of Dori like a runaway train. If any were the completion of Fin’s news, he was too taken aback to admit it. I shuddered and gently put a hand on her arm. “Please, take a seat,” I begged Dori. She meant well, but I carried enough worry without any help.

As Dori sunk to the brocade settee, I faced Fin. “How bad is it?”

“Your father’s business partner was found… dead.” Fin held his hat in his hands. “At your father’s house.”

“The house we went to yesterday?” I turned away from him, unable to picture the scene. “Was it the man from the train?”

“Yes,” Fin said, “He broke into your father’s house. I’ve been to the scene, and the home is in disarray. Possibly ransacked, as well as evidence of a struggle.”

“Your father has a house in town?” Dori piped up.

Fin and I looked at her, then back at each other. “What of my father?”

“No sign,” Fin said. “He is wanted…”

“For murder?” Dori interrupted.

“Silence is much appreciated,” I whispered to her, but the question had also popped into my mind.

Dori slumped on the settee.

“At the moment, your father is only wanted for questioning.” Fin rubbed his chin. I took it as a clear sign that he had more to tell me but was unsure if he should.

I motioned for Fin to step away from Dori, lowering my voice. “If you have more news of my father, please share it. I cannot fathom this turn of events; every detail is salient.”

Fin nodded a sensible man, after all. “I have learned that your father was seen in town nine days prior but not since. Nothing points to his return.”

It wasn’t the worst news. Something could have happened to Father, but I would not borrow trouble. He left the map behind for a reason. Perhaps he sent a man after it, but he was accosted by the disgruntled partner. Father could be waiting for his man’s return—with the map. Since I had the map, all their plans would be foiled.

“I can see the wheels turning,” Fin groaned, “and can only imagine the outcome. Shall you expose your machinations?”

I raised a finger, stalling a direct answer. “Is more known of the dead man’s—my father’s business partner’s—identity?”

“His name was Reggie Brown,” Fin said. “Had you missed it on the train?”

“Mister Brown’s mission was so earnest, he did not share it.” Picturing the man in the green-checkered suit, he’d been focused on exposing Father’s second home in Kansas City.  It seemed to be his only purpose in approaching me. “Had he used me as bait? Did my appearance at Father’s house set all this in motion?” With a hand to my heart, I joined Dori on the settee.

Fin didn’t know what to say. He stared at his shoes, uneasy, as if he expected an enormous explosion from my lips. There would be none of that. I had no time for hysterics.

“Whatever has gone awry, my father is in danger,” I stated. “The map I took from his house holds hidden clues. They could very well lead to the Spanish gold.”

“I thought we weren’t going to talk about you know what, hidden under you know where,” Dori whispered.

Fin still heard. “Willa knows better than to keep secrets from me.”

My eyes found his smug face. “The map is incomplete, and we must locate four overlays before the treasure can be found. If the treasure exists.”

Crossing his arms, Fin considered me, and I would not be bragging to say he did so with a look of awe. Something in the vicinity of my heart fluttered, but I paid it no mind. I did, however, need Fin’s help.

“On my day off,” I said, “I shall visit the map location and see what can be learned. Until then, the map will stay under my protection unless you mean to confiscate it.”

I raised my chin.

With a low chuckle, Fin held up both of his hands. “Far be it for me, Miss Abbot, to interfere with your investigation.”

A frown settled over my lips. “Indeed, sir, I expect a Pinkerton Man to swoop in and take charge.”

“Happy to dissuade you of the notion,” Fin said with a slight bow. “This is not my case nor of any Pinkerton agent. I am at your service until I deem the situation deserves the local authorities. Presently, waving a treasure map around is not the soundest action unless we wish to appear as addle-headed buffoons.” 

Dori clapped her hands. “We’ll pack a picnic and head for the foothills.” 

“The foothills?” Fin’s tone sounded doubtful. Whether it was the plan or Dori in general, I could not tell.

Backing her up, I chimed in my support. “An Elemental wind symbol marks one corner of the map and indicates where we may find an overlay.”

“Up high,” Dori added, “in the most dangerous spot, I should imagine. Maps of this nature would hardly make for an easy discovery, as the item would have to withstand centuries before being found.”

Fin’s bright eyes flashed, and he gave every indication of questioning Dori but thought better. He might be rethinking our whole plan, but I didn’t allow him to back out. Standing, I thrust out my hand to shake his. He took it reluctantly.

“Have no fear,” I beamed at him, “no mountain is too high, no peak insurmountable. We shall find the rest of the map if it is the last thing we do!”

Fin pulled his hand out of my grip. “No, it is not the last thing we will do. On the contrary, no one shall die trying. Do you hear me, Willa? We shall take precautions and sound steps. No harm will come to you.”

“Or you,” I added.

“Or me!” Dori gulped. “My, my, and people say I’m the dramatic one.”

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The story continues next week!